Wire fabric seam



Dec. 10, 1940. I w JMTAYLOR 2,224,323

WIRE FABRIC SEAM Filed May 2 1959 i v INVENTOR MZZz'amJZEzy/or Fig-5. BY

.ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 10, 1940 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a wire fabric seam, and particularly relates to woven metallic fabrics used as endless webs in paper making machines of the Fourdrinier type.

Heretofore many methods have been employed for joining or seaming together the ends of metallic fabric used in the so called Fourdrinier paper making machines, but in each of these prior methods the finished joint has been somewhat stiffer than other areas of the metallic fabric. and moreover the porosity of the web at the joint has been somewhat denser. This invention particularly proposes the construction of a seam which will increase the flexibility of the metallic fabric at the joint area to more closely approximate the flexibility of the fabric at other areas, than was heretofore possible. It is also proposed to so construct the seam as to increase the porosity of the same to a degree more closely approximating the metal fabric at other areas, than was heretofore obtained.

In order to better understand the invention it is advisable to give some consideration to prior seams and to recognize the reasons why the flexibility and porosity thereof are at variance with other portions of the metallic fabric. In each of the prior seams it has been customary to do one or more of the following acts: (1) To use terminal weft wires which are of the identical material and gauge as the weft wires of the screen and to apply solder or other fusible metals to the seam. (2) To use more than one terminal weft wire of the same size and diameter as the weft threads and to apply solder to the seam to join the parts together. (3) To add a joining element which is of a material equal to or stiffer than the other wires of the metallic fabric, and to add fusible joining material thereto.

In view of the fact that the seam includes an element just as stiff as other elements of the mtallic fabric, and furthermore includes fusible material, it naturally follows that the seam must be less flexible than other portions of the metallic fabric. It also follows that the porosity of the seam will be reduced, particularly, in cases where more than one terminal weft wire is added to the seam or where the joining element is of a larger size than the natural sizes of the wires forming the metallic fabric.

This invention contemplates constructing the seam with the use of joining elements which normally are smaller in size than, and which have greater flexibility than the normalwarp and weft wires of the metallic material being joined, Consequently, when the joining process is completed with the addition of fusible metal the joint, while becoming stiffer, need not necessarily exceed the stiffness of other portions of the metallic fabric. 5 Likewise, the joint need not have lesser porosity than the other areas of the metallic fabric.

Still further the invention contemplates various constructions by which similar results may be obtained and various methods to carry out these 10 constructions. But in all instances the fundamental principle referred to in the prior paragraph is inherent in each of the forms.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, refer- '15 ence will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a mate- 2O rial part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view illustrating two pieces of wire fabric joined together in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a piece ofrenitent metal wire used in one form of the invention.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view showing the wire of Fig. 1. associated with fusible material in accordance to this invention.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional View of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the manner in which the combined elements shown in Fig, 4 are grooved.

Fig. 6 is a schematic view showing parts of the 5 wire fabric in the process of being joined with the member constructed in Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a transverse sectional view showing the completed seam.

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view similar to Fig. '7 but showing a modified form of scam in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional View .of a cable used in a modified form of seam in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of wire fabric pieces joined in accordance with this invention, using the cable illustrated n Fig. 9.

Fig. 11' is another transverse sectional view of a cable to be used in conjunction with this invention.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of pieces of a wire ;cree1n joined with the use of the cable shown in Fig, 13 is another sectional view of a cable used in accordance with a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view of pieces of fabric wire screen joined in accordance with this invention.

With specific reference to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to '7 inclusive, it may be best to first describe the construction of a member used in the method for joining fabric Wire pieces. In Fig. 2 a renitent metallic wire I I is illustrated, This wire may be soft brass or other non-fusible material. In Fig. 3 the 'wire I 0 is illustrated wound helical on a core of fusible material I0. In Fig. 4 the fusible material I0 is illustrated in section in position within the wire II. At this point a slight amount of heat is required suflicient to cause the fusible metal material ID to adhere to the inner wall of the wire II without materially dispersing the wire formation of the material ID.

The member, as shown in Fig. 4, is then supported at the top and bottom by holding elements I2 and I3. It is then grooved longitudinally along the sides with V-shaped edge wheels I4 so as to have side V-shaped grooves.

The ends I5 of the warp wires I5 are then cut to extend a distance equal to approximately onehalf the distance between the weft wires IS. The free ends I5 of each piece of metallic fabric are then bent together so that each of these ends extend in a separate common line. These common lines are indicated in Fig. 6 which is 'a sectional view by the points I5. The element I0 and II is then held by the support members I2 and I3, respectively, and the pointed ends I5 of the metallic screen pieces are brought together so that the points I5 engage in the apexes of the V-shaped side grooves of the member. Then the fabric ends are heated to cause the fusible metal to fiow due to capillary action over the surfaces of the adjacent ends of the warp wires. The assembly is then cooled, wherebythe fusible metal is caused to solidify and the Warp wires have their ends I5 joined together by. certain areas of the wire II and the material I0. 7

The wire I I from which the joining member is made must be of flexible material having a greater degree of flexibility thanthe flexibility of the normal warp and weft wiresof the metallic fabric. The joined seam, even though slightly stiffened by the fusing material, will be relatively flexible when compared with seams constructed according to old present day methods. 7 It will be merely a matter of design to select the proper flexible wire and to form the V-shaped grooves in the side member, the proper sizes and shapes, 'so as to obtain a finished seam having the flexibility and porosity desired.' 7 v In Fig. 8 another embodiment of the invention has been disclosed which distinguishes from the prior form merely in the shapes of the upper and lower areas of the joining member I0, I I. In this form of the invention this member is concave at the top and bottom. In the prior form the corresponding areas were convex. The method used for constructing this form is substantially identical to the prior described method, differing only in the fact that the joining member IO, U is formed with pressed in grooves in the top and bottom sides. These grooves may be formed by rollers similar to the rollers I I. From this point on the process is repeated as before, that .is, the joining member is formed with the V-shaped side cuts and the other parts are associated and joined with the processed member by fusing and subsequent cooling as previously described. The top and bottom grooves serve to better place the wire I against the ends of the warp wire l5.

In Figs. 9 and 10 another embodiment of the invention is disclosed which distinguishes from the prior form in the construction of the joining member. According to this form of the invention the joining member comprises a fusible metallic wire 20 of silver solder or other similar material around which there is wound a plurality of flexible renitent wires 2|. These wires 2| form a cable which is more flexible than the flexibility of the normal warp and weft wires of the metallic fabric. The member 2|], 2| is used for seaming the metal fabric pieces together in the following manner:

First the ends 22* of the warp wires 22 of the metallic fabric pieces being joined, are cut so as to extend past the terminal weft wires 23 a distance substantially equal to one-half the distance between the weft wires 23. These cut ends 22 are then bent alternately upwards and downwards along theoretical spaced parallel lines. The cable 20, 2| is then inserted between these spaced parallel lines so that the ends 22 alternately engage over the top of the cable and under the bottom of the cable at the vertical center thereof. The parts are shown in this condition in Fig. 10. The pieces of screen which are being joined are then checked and cut so that the distances between the terminal weft wires 23 and'the cable 20, 2| are substantially equal to the distances between the weft wires. Heat is then applied to the fabric ends to cause the fusible metal 20 to flow over the surfaces by capillary action of the adjacent ends of the warp wires and the surfaces of the wires 2| comprising the cable. The assembly is then permitted to cool whereby the fusible metal is caused to solidify and the warp wires are united by the flexible cable. This seam may be so designed as to have a flexibility substantially equal to the flexibility of other portions of the metallic fabric. Similarly, its porosity may be equal to the porosity of other portions of the fabric.

In Figs. 11 and 12 another modified form of the invention is disclosed which distinguishes from the form shown in Figs. 9 and 10 merely in the construction of the cable used in the process and the location of the ends 22. According to this form of the invention the cable is composed of a center renitent wire 2| and a plurality of external renitent wires 2| wound around the core wire 2|. in cable form. However, one of the external wires, the wire 20, is of fusible metallic material such as silver solder or the like. This cable is used in the process described relative to Figs. 9 and 10 and schematically illustrated in Fig. 12. Like parts have been given the same reference numerals. The only differences in this form of the invention from the prior form resides in the fact that the external fusible metallic wire 20' will fuse and flow over the surfaces of the adjacent Warp ends andthe surfaces of the adjacent wires of the cable to join the parts together and in the spacing of the ends 22. The ends 22* of like warp wires respectively are engaged over and under the joiner member slightly past the vertical center of the joiner member.

In Figs. 13 and 14 another modified form is disclosed which also distinguishes from the latter form in the construction of the cable. In this form of the invention the cable is constructed from a plurality of wires 2| and 2|. Then an auxiliary fusible metallic wire 20" is extended along one side of the cable and fused thereto at the contacting points only. This cable 2 I, 2| and 2B" is used in the process previously described, as indicated in Fig. 1 1. In this figure, like parts have been designated by like reference numerals. The only difference in this process resides in the fact that it is the fusible wire Ell" which, when heated, will flow by capillary action over the surfaces of the adjacentends of the warp wires and the surfaces of the wires 2| of the cable, In this manner the ends are united as a unit.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A seam for joining wire fabric ends, each of said ends having a terminal weft wire with the out free ends of said warp wires extending past the weft wires, and a wire of fusible material cooperative with the out free ends of said warp wires for temporarily holding said warp wires in position until said fusible material is caused to melt and securely attach said ends together.

2. A seam for joining wire fabric ends, each of said ends having a terminal weft wire and the cut free ends of the warp wires extending past the weft wires and terminating along a common line, a wire of fusible material, and grooves formed on opposite sides of said wire and into which the ends of said warp wires are extended for temporarily holding said ends in said common line until said fusible material is caused to melt to securely attach said ends together.

3. A seam for joining wire fabric ends, each of said ends having a terminal weft wire and the cut free ends of the warp wires extending past the weft wires and terminating along a common line, a wire consisting of a base of fusible material having a strand of wire of non-fusible material wound helically therearound and imbedded therein, and grooves formed on opposite sides of said wire and into which the ends of said warp wires are extended for holding said warp wires in a common line, said grooves being formed to out said strand of non-fusible material into separate pieces, whereby when said fusible material is caused to melt it will connect the ends of the sections of said strand of non-fusible and the ends of said warp wires together as a unit.

4. A seam for joining wire fabric ends, each of said ends having a terminal weft wire and the out free ends of the warp wires extending past said weft wires and terminating along spaced parallel lines forming a space between the adjacent faces of said ends equal to the diameter of a weft wire, a wire containing fusible material and of a diameter equal to a weft wire extended through said space parallel to said weft wires, whereby when said fusible material is caused to melt it will join the ends of said warp wires together without the fusible material being exposed from either face of said fabric.

5. A seam for joining wire fabric ends, each of said ends having a terminal weft wire and the out free ends of the warp wires extending past said weft wires and terminating along spaced parallel lines forming a space between the adjacent faces of said ends equal to the diameter of a weft wire, a wire containing fusible material and of a diameter equal to a weft wire extended through said space parallel to said weft wires, whereby when said fusible material is caused to melt it will join the ends of said warp wires together without the fusible material being exposed from either face of said fabric, said wire, comprising several strands of fusible and non-fusible material twisted in cable formation.

6. A seam for joining wire fabric ends, each of said ends having a terminal weft wire and the out free ends of the warp wires extending past said weft wires and terminating along spaced parallel lines forming a space between the adjacent faces of said ends equal to the diameter of a weft wire, a wire containing fusible material and of a diameter equal to a weft wire extended through said space parallel to said weft wires, whereby when said fusible material is caused to melt it will join the ends of said warp wires together without the fusible material being exposed from either face of said fabric, said wire, comprising a core wire of fusible material having several strands of non-fusible material twisted thereon in cable formation.

7. A seam for joining wire fabric ends, each of said ends having a terminal weft wire and the out free ends of the warp wires extending past said weft wires and terminating along spaced parallel lines forming a space between the adjacent faces of said ends equal to the diameter of a weft wire, a wire containing fusible material and of a diameter equal to a weft wire extended through said space parallel to said weft wires, whereby when said fusible material is caused to melt it will join the ends of said warp wires together without the fusible material being exposed from either face of said fabric, said wire, comprising a core wire of non-fusible material having several strands of fusible material twisted thereof in cable formation.

WILLIAM J. TAYLOR. 

